Thank you for supporting Candlelighters!


Thank you so much for your support this Christmas. For over 45 Christmases, Candlelighters has brought light to children and families in the darkest of times and this year will be no different.  All of our support services are available to families, from talking and wellbeing therapies to groups and events. We’ll be providing over 200 Christmas grants as well as making sure the children on the wards still get some Christmas magic.

We are able to support families over the year, and at Christmas because of kind donations from our supporters. We are still recovering from the impact of Covid, which saw our fundraising income down £500k on our targets last year.  We rely entirely on the generous support of the community to continue delivering our vital services this Christmas.

Your support means that we can continue to bring light to our families. If you would like to help us further, you can purchase some fabulous gifts from our shop or donate to Candlelighters directly.


Our stories

1 year on… The Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre
14-11-24Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
In the years since Candlelighters was formed, survival rates for children with cancer have greatly improved. But so far, little has been done to improve the experience of living through and beyond cancer. The side effects of treatment can be traumatic, permanent, and even deadly, not to mention the practical and emotional tolls families face. …
Candlelighters named children’s charity of the year!
08-11-24Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
In October, we were overjoyed when we were chosen as children’s charity of the year at the Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards! The awards began in 2011 to recognise the region’s bravest and most courageous children and young adults as well as the charities that support them. For almost 50 years, Candlelighters has supported children and families across Yorkshire through childhood cancer. From the hospital wards, to …
Outreach play specialists – Play in Healthcare Week 2024 
22-10-24Our stories • Posted by Chloe Vickers
Last week was Play in Healthcare Week! This is an awareness week showcasing the importance of providing play to children in hospitals. Our Outreach Play Specialists, Tracy and Rachel can continue this therapeutic play for children diagnosed with cancer within their own homes. Tracy says, “I feel very privileged to work with children, young people …
We’ve been shortlisted for two awards in this year’s Connect Yorkshire Awards!
08-10-24Our stories • Posted by Chloe Vickers
We’re delighted to announce we’ve been shortlisted for the Community Impact Award at this year’s Connect Yorkshire Awards. Plus, our CEO Emily has also been individually recognised in the Inspirational Leader category! The Connect Yorkshire Business Awards take place annually and exist to recognise and celebrate the exceptional contribution made by businesses and non-profit organisations …
25 Years of Play
25-09-24Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
As a charity, we’re proud to be trailblazers in pushing for and funding new and better ways to make lives better for children with cancer. We’re especially proud of the commitment we’ve given to funding play for children. For over 25 years, we’ve funded additional play team roles in the children’s oncology department at Leeds …
Neil Shaw: Candlelighters Chemotherapy Project Nurse Specialist  
19-09-24Our stories • Posted by Chloe Vickers
For Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this year, we want to highlight the difficulties faced by children who receive their treatment as an outpatient and their families. Whilst some children have to be hospitalised for much of their treatment, there are others who are able to return home and come back into hospital regularly for treatment. …
Candlelighters offers children respite from childhood cancer with weekend residential trip
23-07-24Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
Children’s cancer charity Candlelighters hosted a weekend of fun and respite at Lineham Farm for 34 children whose siblings face a cancer diagnosis. Around 150 children in Yorkshire are diagnosed with cancer every year. A childhood cancer diagnosis devastates the entire family. It can be especially difficult for siblings to process the emotional difficulty that a cancer diagnosis causes, …
Join our fundraising groups at their summer balls!
16-07-24Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We’re delighted that two of our fundraising groups will be hosting fabulous fundraising balls this August. Ilkley Candlelighters and Knaresborough Candlelighters would like to invite you to their summer balls to help raise vital funds for children and young people with cancer. Find out the details below… Ilkley Candlelighters Dance the night away and raise …
Saturdays at The Square
28-06-24Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
Candlelighters have been trialling opening our family support centre, The Square, on Saturdays to increase access to our support for our families. On Saturdays at The Square, Lucy Peel and Jess Burton, two of our Family Support Workers have provided wonderful crafts, fun activities, and food offerings. Our Sarnies and Smoothies on a Saturday have …

Your stories

Annual charity football match in memory of Peter Woodmansey raises over £3,400 for Candlelighters!
09-10-24Your stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
This year’s match has so far raised over £3,400, adding to the total raised which now exceeds £33,000! LasBootham Old Scholars took on Wiggington Grasshoppers under 19s in an exciting and close-fought match to raise funds for Candlelighters. The match was played in memory Peter Woodmansey, who sadly passed away aged just 17 in December …